In response to gli77 et al:
I can't contol myself...
Most people enter the industry and have no set goals or ambitions.
That's pretty patronizing. Most people I know entered the industry with very definite goals. They had to change several times in response to the industry. It's called adaptability, and is more important in this industry than skill.
look for ads that are looking for ICAO type II licences.
Your information is three years out of date.
I have heard Spar in Edmonton pays well.
Your information is three years out of date.
CHC global has also advertised recently with a good rotational shift.
You've obviously spent no time in the rotor world or have forgotten it.
an AME has a two year college diploma. If you want a guaranteed six figure income then you had better be a degree’s engineer or a doctor. For that you will require much more education.
[
Did I miss something? I don't actually see anyone in this thread asking for a six figure income.
What most of them seem to be upset about is certain practices in this industry such as:
- hiring apprentices on salary then working them so much they effectively earn less than minimum wage on some rotations (still happens in helicopter world)
- hiring apprentices at the princely sum of $10 - $14 p/h and informing them they are "lucky to have a job", if they balk at excessive overtime or complain about inconsistant shifts.
- job postings for licensed AME's bragging a starting wage at $17.00 per hour. Often the same companies over and over but some poor, desperate person must occasionally bite or they'd improve the wage.
- job postings for experienced, licensed AMEs with multiple endorsements who advertise a "competitive wage" just to find they mean competitive with Superstore.
etc, etc.
I'd like to ask a few questions of those that agree with gli77:
1) What do you consider a decent starting wage for someone who has outstanding student loans or debt to family?
2) Who paid for
your education?
3) How many times have you been married?
4) Do your children resemble you? (If you need help with this question feel free to post pictures of yourself and your kids and the reader can make up their own mind)
5) Why do you feel a profession that is already hard on family life should also have a below average pay scale just so John Q. Public can fly to Europe for $499.00 + taxes and fees return? (Which is actually less than in 1970, much less when you consider 1970 dollars).
6) How's that pension plan doing in the airline/AMO your working in?
Most of the travel I've done in this industry has been airport to airport. I've seen many places but I know nothing about them. When someone asks me if I've been somewhere I usually feel a bit of a fraud to say I have.
For what it's worth, I also am doing better than average in this industry. However, I recognize a lot of luck was involved and I'm only one misstep from falling on my backside.
And now for something completely different...
===========================================
It's a different subject but I don't agree government regulation is the answer. Government is much of the reason for the existing situation.
===========================================
There seems to be a myth pilots are so well paid. A lot of smaller companies pay about the same for AMEs as pilots. Most f/o salaries are a joke. We all hear the 747 captain at $250,000 a year but these are exceptions, not the rule. That's sort of like envying a lottery winner.
============================================
